BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENTS CONTAINING MOLLUSC TOXINS

Abstract: The invention provides novel synthetic DNAs which are capable of expressing peptide proteins toxic to insects when incorporated within the genome of a suitable host organism, e.g. a baculovirus, the proteins being the same as or structurally and functionally similar to peptide toxins derived from molluscs, e.g. Conus spp.

Description: BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENTS CONTAINING MOLLUSC TOXINS. This invention relates to DNA sequences encoding proteins which are toxic to insect and like pests of agriculture and to biological control agents having a genome comprising a heterologous gene under the control of a promoter for the expression of at least one of the said peptides. In particular this invention relates to biological control agents and more particularly to biological control agents comprising a heterologous gene capable of expressing a peptide or small protein (hereinafter "protein") which is toxic to insects, the said protein being or being functionally equivalent to, a protein derived from a mollusc. By the term biological control agent is meant any viral, prokaryotic or eukaryotic organism which when brought into association with an insect is capable of infecting the insect and interfering with the normal biochemical processes and leading ultimately to the death of the insect. Suitable biological control agents within the scope of the invention include those based on bacterial, viral and fungal pathogens of insects. Bacterial pathogens include for example Bacillus species such as B.thurinoiensis, B.cereus and the like. Suitable insect viral pathogens include baculoviruses and entomopoxviruses, such as Autoorapha californica and Amsacta oorei and the like. Fungal pathogens of insects include for example Beauvaria species such as B. bassiana. Viruses are particularly preferred, especially those wherein the expression of the heterologous gene is under the control of a highly efficient promoter. In the case of baculoviruses, such as Autoαrapha californica. the promoter is that for polyhedrin gene. In the case of entomopoxvirus virus, such as Amsacta moorei . the promoter is that for the spheroidin gene. Alternatively the biological control agent can be a genetically modified plant endophyte in which the genome has been altered to incorporate a gene which is capable of expressing protein which is toxic to insects, the said protein being or being functionally equivalent to, a protein derived from a mollusc. When such an endophyte is brought into association with a plant the protein may be expressed by the endophyte within the plant and exert toxic effects on insects feeding on or dwelling within the plant. In a further variation the biological control agent can be a plant itself, particularly a crop plant being grown for food or fibre products, in which the plant genome has been modified by incorporation of a gene which is capable of expressing a protein which is toxic to insects, the said protein being, or being functionally equivalent to, a protein derived from a mollusc. In recent years the toxins of members of the Conus genus of marine gastropods ("Cone Snails") have been recognised as a rich source of novel low molecular weight neuroactive peptides with a very diverse range of biological effects (Olivera et al . (1990) Science 249257-263, Olivera (1991) J.Biol.Chem. 26622067-22070). Members of this genus have clearly become adapted to hunt both vertebrate (fish) and invertebrate (molluscs, worms and Crustacea) prey by developing highly specialised and often highly selective peptide toxins from a small number of basic forms or frameworks, viz: where C represents a cysteine residue and "..." indicates short tracts of amino acids between 3 and 10 amino acids long (Olivera et al . (1990) Science 249257-263). Different families of conotoxins (e.g. the α-conotoxins, μ-conotoxins and the w-conotoxins) , distinguished primarily by the pattern of the cysteine residues they contain, can thus be recognised. Some of these families, typified by the α-conotoxins, share very similar structures and all appear to act by antagonism of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Others, typified by the 1-conotoxins are rather more diverse in structure and, in fact, through similarity searches have been recognised to be structurally related to a much larger family of peptides based on the presence of the characteristic w-conotoxin-type cysteine motif and often the location of "bend promoting" amino acids (glycine and proline). Included in this larger family are such species as: the "King Kong" family of conotoxins (Hillyard et al. (1989) Biochemistry 28358-361, Woodward et al . (1990) EMB0 J. 9 1015-1020), spider toxins such as μ-agatoxins, scorpion toxins such as Curtatoxin 2 and Buthus Pep2, antimicrobial proteins such as Mj-AMPl derived from the seed of Mirabilis ialapa (Cammue et al . (1992) J.Biol.Chem. 267 2228-2233) and even a peptide of unknown function (CTL) encoded by the baculovirus AcMNPV (Eldridge et al . J.Virology (1992) 6563-6571). This relationship is shown in the following list of sequences, and in Tables 1 and 2: Cono-KK-0 WCKQSGEMCNLLDQN—CCDG^YCIVLV CT [Sequence ID-19] Cono-KK-1 CIEQFDPCEMIRHT—CCVGV-CFLMA CI [Sequence ID-20] Cono-KK-2 CAPFLHPCTFFFPN—CCN-SYCVQFI CL [Sequence ID-21] Cono-GVIA CKSPGSSCSPTSYN—CCR-S-CNPYTK RCY [Sequence ID-31] Cono-MVIIB CKGKGASCHRTSYD--CCTG.S-CNRG-K C [Sequence ID-32] μ-Agatoxin 3 ADCVGDG.QRCAD-WAGPYCCSG YCSCR--SMPYCRCRSDS [Sequence ID-33] Curtatoxin 2 ADCVGDGQKCAD-WFGPYCCSGYYCSCR-SMPYCRCRSDS [Sequence ID-34] Buthus Pep 2 VGCEEDPMNCKGKQAKPTCCNGV-CN C-NV [Sequence ID-35] CTL ACAETGAVCVHNDE—CCS£A-CSPIF—NY-CLPQ [Sequence ID-36] Mj-AMPl QCIGNGGRCNENVGPPYCCSG.F-CL-RQPGQGYGYCKNR [Sequence ID-37] ("—" indicates a direct bond between adjacent amino acid residues) Whilst, the w-conotoxins themselves are considered to act via voltage gated Ca2+ channels, the mechanisms of action of the more distantly related family members is often different or presently unknown. As shown in Table 1 and Table 2, such is the diversity in amino acid sequence of the members of this large family of w-conotoxin related peptides that it would be quite remarkable if they all shared similar targets. Rather the diversity of biological activities of these proteins might be taken as an indication that the basic w-conotoxin molecular framework is a particularly versatile basis upon which to construct effective small protein/peptide ligands. Given the activities and origins (spiders and scorpion venoms) of some of the more distantly related members of the w-conotoxin family it is not surprising that some can display insecticidal activety. A priori however, given the marine environment which they inhabit, there is little reason to believe that insect active conotoxins would be a particular advantage to cone snails. Not unsurprisingly therefore the issue as to whether conotoxins might provide a useful natural source of insect active or insect selective neuropeptides remains an unresolved and even largely unadressed issue. Thus, for example, in only one report that we are aware of has a group of closely related toxins isolated from the venom of Conus textile neovaricus. including the "King Kong" toxin (designated TxIA) , been assessed for insecticidal activity by injection studies in blowfly (Sarcophaαa falculata) larvae (Fainzilber et al . (1991) Eur.J.Biochem. 202 589-595). No activity was detected, whereas potent effects on molluscs were apparent at much lower doses. Notwithstanding the report of Fainzilber et al . we initiated an investigation intended to establish whether the mollusc and crustacean active "King Kong" conotoxin (Hillyard et al . (1989) Biochemistry), later designated KK-0 [SEQ ID 16] (Woodward et al. (1990) EMBO J. 9 1015-1020), and two related peptides KK-1 [SEQ ID 17] and KK-2 [SEQ ID 18] reported at the Conferences Jacques Monod on Toxines Animales (Aussois, France) on 24-28 October 1988 had any activity in insect systems. As detailed in Example 1 below, synthetic peptides corresponding to the reported sequences of KK-0, KK-1 and KK-2 (see Figure 7) were prepared and assessed by injection into specimens of adult Periplanata americana (Order: Dictyoptera) and larval Heliothis virescens and Trichoplusia ni (Order: Lepidoptera) . Both the preparations KK-0 and KK-1 showed distinct insecticidal and/or paralysis inducing activity in each of the species tested. In light of the results of Fainzilber et al . in which TxIA (equivalent to KK-0) had been injected into Sarcophaoa falculata (Order: Diptera) larvae, without effect, we considered that there might still be some doubt whether the insecticidal effects we had seen were an intrinsic property of KK-0 and/or KK-1. Although the synthetic peptide preparations had been extensively purified, some difficulties had been experienced in their chemical synthesis because of their high cysteine content, resultant tendency to aggregate and likely propensity to form incorrectly folded structures. The insecticidal activity we had seen might therefore have been a consequence of the synthetic methods used. We have therefore extended our investigation of the insecticidal properties and potential of the Conus textile derived proteins KK-0 and KK-1 by expressing genes encoding their precursors in baculovirus (AcMNPV) expression systems. Here we report for the first time the discovery that a gene encoding the KK-0 precursor is capable of significantly shortening the time a baculovirus takes to incapacitate susceptible insect hosts. This improvement in the speed of action of the baculovirus arises from a characteristic process of paralysis followed by death and results in a significant reduction in the size of susceptible lepidopteran larvae fed with KK-0 recombinant viruses when compared to control larvae fed with wild type larvae at the same developmental stage. These effects result in a clear crop protective effect when susceptible larvae become infected by eating host plants which have been sprayed with suitable virus preparations. This crop protective effect is demonstrably better than can be achieved with similar doses of wild type virus. Such improvements in the properties of baculoviruses were obtained using a synthetic gene [SEQ ID 1] designed to encode an mRNA molecule which would in turn encode the presumed natural precursor of the "King Kong" (KK-0) conotoxin: a 78 amino acid protein which is likely to enter the secretion pathway during synthesis and may initially be produced as a pro-toxin which is subsequently processed to produce mature KK-0, at least in Conus textile (Woodward et al . (1990) EMBO J. 9 1015-1020). The synthetic gene we used for this work was designed without regard for the natural nucleotide sequence of the Conus textile KK-0 gene. Rather the gene was designed to ensure that, although it encoded the natural KK-0 precursor, it was likely to be both efficiently expressed in insect cell systems and was convenient to manipulate (see details in Example 2). Though we have not therefore used a natural KK-0 gene or cDNA from Conus textile there are, however, no grounds to anticipate that such a sequence, or another synthetic gene capable of encoding the KK-0 precursor, would not be equally effective in enhancing the speed of action of a baculovirus host. The synthetic gene (sKK-0) we have employed actually has only 77% nucleotide sequence identity the coding sequence of natural KK-0 mRNA. A superficially surprising aspect of our investigation of the properties of recombinant baculoviruses based upon Autoorapha californica Multiply Enveloped Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (AcMNPV) to express the sKK-0 gene was the discovery that the properties of the viruses are very dependent upon the promoter which is used to express the gene. Polyhedrin plus (occluded) viruses which carry the sKK-0 gene in a position such that it will be transcribed from the powerful very late plO promoter show no enhancement in biological activity. By contrast both polyhedrin plus (polyhedrin or pol+) and polyhedrin minus (polyhedrin " or pol- / non-occluded) viruses in which the alternative very late polyhedrin promoter drives sKK-0 expression deliver clearcut improvements in speed of action. Literature precedent would have suggested that either the plO (Stewart et al . (1991) Nature 35285-88, McCutchen et al . (1991) Biotechnology 9 848-852) or the polyhedrin promoter (To alski & Miller (1991) Nature 35282-85 & (1992) Biotechnology 10 545-549) would have been expected to be able to confer adequate expression levels on insecticidal gene products. Recently published patent applications also appear to presume, without providing any substantive proof, that these promoters will be able to produce enhancements in insecticidal activity when expressing either "Insecticidal Toxins from the Parasitic Wasp Bracon hebetor" (WO 93/18145) or "Insecticidal Toxins from Plectreurvs tristis" (EP 0 556 160 A2). Whilst we do not know why the sKK-0 gene does not cause insecticidal effects when expressed in recombinant AcMNPVs from the plO promoter, amongst the most likely explanations might be differential stability effects on the hybrid polyhedrin/sKK-0 and plO/sKK-0 mRNAs. There are no grounds to conclude that similar effects would or would not be seen with another gene encoding KK-0 but having a different nucleotide sequence. Similarly there are no a priori reasons to consider that such effects would be unique to the KK-0 gene system. We conclude that the baculovirus art has not reached the stage of predicatability with respect to which promoter/toxin gene combinations will deliver the hoped for improvements in virus efficacy. In contrast with our success in enhancing the speed of action of baculoviruses (AcMNPV) by conferring upon them the capacity to express a gene encoding the precursor of KK-0, we have to date seen no similar improvements with viruses designed to express the KK-1 precursor (see Example 14). Again this result would appear somewhat surprising given both the encouraging results which had been obtained upon injection of the chemically synthesised sample of KK-1 and the fact that the identity in the sequence of the presumed signal sequence encoding region of the precursors of KK-0 and KK-1 (Woodward et al.) had enabled us to use precisely the same gene sequence to encode this portion of the KK-1 precursor as had previously been used successfully with the sKK-0 gene. Based on our experiences with the different capacities of the polyhedrin and plO promoters to drive sKK-0 expression we had also elected to assemble a polyhedrin promoter/sKK-1 expression construct for our work with the sKK-1 gene to optimise the chances of achieving reliable expression. Whilst we consider the work we have undertaken with sKK-1 insufficient to conclude definitively that KK-1 is incapable of enhancing the efficacy of recombinant baculovirus insecticides, given the appropriate genetic constructs, we nevertheless believe that the results we have obtained underlines the fact that one cannot presume that genes encoding any conotoxin or conotoxin-related peptide will have the capacity to enhance baculovirus activity. Such a conclusion is consistent with studies with the Ctl (Conotoxin-like) gene, which encodes a natural "conotoxin-like" peptide expressed by AcMNPV but which appears to have no biological effect so far as can be established by gene ablation studies (Eldridge et al . J.Virology (1992) 6563-6571). As shown in Table 1 and Table 2, although both CTL and KK-1 are clearly members of the w-conotoxin family, both clearly only have a low absolute level of identity with KK-0 (<40%) or any other member of the family. Indeed the seed derived anti-microbial protein Mj-AMPl shares as much similarity with other members of the family. Thus, whilst this work teaches that genes encoding conotoxins and conotoxin-like peptides are a potentially fruitful area in which to seek species capable of enhancing baculovirus activity it cannot be taken to indicate that it is obvious that any gene so categorised will be effective. In considering the mode of action by which KK-0 acts to incapacitate insect pests, it must be considered probable that it recognises an equivalent target protein in both insects and molluscs. Given the evolutionary distance between molluscs, Crustacea and insects it would however be very surprising if the structure of the KK-0 target in insects was precisely identical to that found in the natural marine prey of Conus textile. It is therefore unlikely that KK-0 will have evolved to be the perfect ligand for the insect target. There is therefore a strong probability that the KK-0 protein could be further enhanced as an insecticidal agent by enabling it to evolve greater specificity for insect target proteins as opposed to molluscan or crustacean targets. Such evolution could be achieved by a variety of protein engineering approaches which will be familiar to those skilled in the art. Potentially the most powerful such method would obviously be one of the peptide library methods which have been developed in recent years. Such approaches teach relatively straightforward methods for randomising up to six amino acids simultaneously and selecting enhanced specificity variants from the population of peptides generated (up to 6.4 x 10 variants). Six amino acids would comprise 6/27ths or 22% of the KK-0 peptide. We therefore assert that genes encoding a protein with up to:- 100 - 22 = 78% homology with KK-0 would be both a sensible and practical range in which to seek an enhanced, insect or even lepidopteran selective, variant of KK-0. Such variants are therefore considered to be included within the scope of the present invention. The present invention thus provides in a first aspect the use of synthetic preparations of the Conus textile KK-0 and KK-1 proteins to deliver insecticidal effects when administered appropriately to a susceptible insect pest. In a second aspect the invention provides the use of a natural, synthetic or semi-synthetic gene, which encodes a precursor of the Conus textile KK-0 conotoxin, to enhance the speed of action of a recombinant baculovirus by inducing an incapacitating effect on a susceptible insect host at an earlier time than would the parental wild type baculovirus host. The baculovirus may be Autoorapha californica Multiply Enveloped Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (AcMNPV) or any other viral species for which suitable genetic engineering or manipulation techniques are available or are developed and in which there is the scope, if necessary, to optimise the context in which the KK-0 gene is placed for expression. In a further aspect the invention provides the use of a baculovirus polyhedrin promoter in preference to the plO promoter to drive the expression of the natural, synthetic or semi-synthetic gene encoding the precursor of the Conus textile KK-0 conotoxin. In a yet further aspect the invention provides a design for a synthetic gene encoding a precursor of the KK-0 conotoxin which can be readily constructed by a variety of well known techniques and which, when expressed from a highly efficient promoter (including the AcMNPV polyhedrin promoter but not the AcMNPV plO promoter), delivers a clear cut enhancement in the speed of action of a recombinant baculovirus. Accordingly the present invention provides a synthetic DNA encoding a gene capable of expressing a protein having the sequence shown in Figure 1, or a functional equivalent thereof, or a varient thereof permitted by the degeneracy of the genetic code. In addition the invention provides a synthetic DNA having the sequence shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 or a functional equivalent thereof or a varient thereof permitted by the degeneracy of the genetic code. In a further aspect the invention provides a method of controlling an insect population as set forth hereinabove wherein the toxin is a peptide expressed by the DNA sequence shown in claim 1 or claim 2 or a fragment or varient thereof prossessing a toxic effect to insects. In addition the invention provides the use of a semi-empirical screen of expression unit structure/function (promoter/KK-0 conotoxin gene combination) to ensure that the optimal means of using the conotoxin gene to deliver enhanced efficacy of a recombinant biological control agent, whether that control agent be based on AcMNPV, any other baculovirus, an entomopoxvirus, any other entomopathogenic virus, Beauveria bassiana. Metarhizium anisopliae. any other suitable entomopathogenic fungus or any suitable plant host. In particular the invention provides the use of any gene encoding a protein or peptide, or precursor of that protein or peptide, which shares greater than 77% similarity with that of the Conus textile KK-0 to enhance the effectiveness of an insecticidal biological control agent. Such a gene may be selected from any appropriate natural source, including but not limited to cone snails, spiders, scorpions and seeds, or may be generated by any suitable protein engineering technique. The invention also provides a method of controlling an insect population at a locus, eg a growing plant, by administering to the insects or the locus of the insects a peptide toxic to those insects, said peptide being functionally equivalent to, and having more than 77% homology with the KK-0 or KK-1 peptides derived from a mollusc in the genus Conus. such as for example Conus textile. In a yet further aspect the invention provides a transmission vector incorporating a DNA sequence encoding a gene capable of expressing a protein having the sequence shown in Figure 1, or a functional equivalent thereof, or a variant thereof permitted by the degeneracy of the genetic code, or alternatively incorporating a DNA having the sequence shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2 or a functional equivalent thereof or a varient thereof permitted by the degeneracy of the genetic code. A preferred transmission vector in a plasmid, for example a plasmid suitable for use in connection with the modification of the baculovirus genome, such as that known as pVL1392. Other plasmid vectors include for example that known as pAcUW21. A plasmid based on pVL1392 incorporating the DNA sequence of Figure 1 and Figure 2 has been introduced into Escherichia coli and desposited in the National Collection of Industrial and Marine Bacteria, Aberdeen UK, under the number NCIMB 40540, on 12 March 1993. The various aspects of the invention are illustrated by means of the following Examples. EXAMPLE 1 Biological Assessment of Synthetic Preparations of "King Kong" (KK-0). KK-1 and KK-2 Peptides Preliminary assessments of the biological activity of synthetic preparations of KK-0, KK-1 and KK-2 peptides were made in a series of injection studies using adult cockroaches (Periplaneta americana: Blattidae: Dictyoptera) and fifth-instar tobacco budworm larvae (Heliothis virescens: Noctuidae: Lepidoptera) . The proteins proved to be insoluble in distilled water and the standard aqueous buffers normally used for injection. KK-0 and KK-1 were suspended at a concentration of lOmg/ml in 0.1M ammonium bicarbonate. After gentle agitation for 1 hour the suspensions were filtered through a 0.2μm filter. A visual assessment indicated that approximately 50% of the KK-0 product was solubilised whereas substantially less of the KK-1 product dissolved. This made it difficult to accurately quantify and compare dose rates directly for the different proteins. However, it was possible to estimate the maximum doses delivered. KK-2 was extremely hydrophobic and was dissolved in DMS0 at a concentration of 10 mg of crude product per ml. Tobacco budworm larvae (TBW) were injected using a 10 μl Hamilton syringe fitted with a 15 mm 33 gauge needle. Early fifth-instar larvae with an average body mass of approximately 300 mg were injected with 1-4 μl of each treatment. Typically, there were at least 5 replicates of each treatment. Adult male cockroaches were injected using a 50 μl Hamilton syringe fitted with a 15mm 27 gauge needle. Each animal received a dose of 1-10 μl of test solution; average body mass was approximately 840 mg. Control insects were injected with an equivalent volume of the appropriate solvent . After injection, treated insects were held individually in containers with a food supply under controlled conditions (25 C, 65% RH) for up to 72 hours. Observations were made periodically to check for any unusual symptomology. Tobacco budworm Injection of both KK-0 and KK-1 into H.virescens larvae resulted in a characteristic "flaccid paralysis" (Table III). Typically, symptoms were observed almost immediately after injection with larvae appearing to become "narcotised". Affected larvae were unable to stand and/or take a coordinated step. Furthermore, they were unable to reinvert when placed upon their back and were capable only of limited feeble movements of the mouthparts and claspers in response to stimulation (gentle prodding with a wooden cocktail stick). At the peak of the "narcosis", affected larvae were limp and pliable. These effects were relatively short-lived, however, and full recovery had normally occurred by 5-10 minutes after injection. All larvae were alive and well at 24 hours after treatment (24 HAT). Injection of higher doses led to an increase in both the severity and duration of the symptoms. The symptomology appeared to be more prononunced with KK-0. No abnormal effects were observed following injection of KK-2 protein into H.virescens larvae at a single rate equivalent to a maximum dose of approximately 10 μg protein per larva (ie 33 μg protein/mg larva). Cockroaches All three proteins produced distinctive and debilitating effects in cockroaches (Table IV). In each case, the severity of the effects increased with the volume of protein suspension injected. Injection of KK-0 protein suspension into cockroaches initially caused severe tremoring followed by a loss of coordination, paralysis and knockdown. The effects were observed initially in the back legs but rapidly spread to the middle and finally the front legs leading to the collapse of the insect. Other symptoms included dorsal arching. Affected insects failed to recover and were dead by 22 HAT. Insects injected with the KK-1 protein showed similar symptomology although the effects appeared to be slightly less severe at the lowest dose of 1 μl of protein suspension. Abnormal effects were also observed briefly in insects injected with 2 and 5 μl of the KK-2 peptide. Symptoms included arching of the back, flattening of the wings and loss of coordinated movement and occurred within a few minutes of injection. The effects appeared to be transitory and affected insects appeared to have fully recovered by 20 minutes post- injection. However, all animals in these treatments were dead at 72 HAT. No unusual symptoms were recorded in insects treated with the lowest rate (1 μl volume) and all insects were alive and well at 72 HAT. These observations were confirmed in subsequent experiments and demonstrated that the conotoxin proteins have insecticidal activity against cockroaches and TBW larvae. EXAMPLE 2 Synthetic King Konα (sKK-0) Conotoxin Gene Design Since there was no a priori reason to believe that the codon usage of the natural KK-0 gene would be particularly advantageous for expression in insect cells, we decided to design a novel synthetic (sKK-0) gene. This was undertaken with the aid of such PCGene (Intelligenetics, 700 East Camino Real, Mountain View, California) programmes as TRANSL, RESTRI and MUTSITE. Features of the sKK-0 gene were that:- It encoded precisely the amino acid sequence [SEQ ID 2] for the KK-0 propeptide described by Woodward et al . through their cDNA cloning studies ((1990) EMB0 J. 9 1015-1020). The codons used to encode the KK-0 propeptide were selected because they are favoured or, at least, frequently encountered in insects ■Drosophila melanoαaster. and yeast (Saccharomvces cerevisiae. since it was anticipated that expression studies might also be undertaken in the latter organism (Ashburner et al . (1984) Develop. Genetics 4295- 312; Ikemura (1985) Mol .Biol .Evol . 2 13-34; Sharp (1986) Nucleic Acids Research 14 5125-5143). The nucleotide sequence immediately preceding the translation initiation codon (ATG) matches closely the preferred sequence for animal mRNAs defined by Kozak ((Kozak (1981) Nucleic Acids Research 9 5233-5252; Kozak (1984) Nucleic Acids Research 12857-873; Kozak (1986) Cell 44 283-292; Kozak (1987) J.Mol.Biol. 196 947-950). No account at all was taken of the codons used by Conus textile to encode the KK-0 propeptide. (As a result the overall ho ology of sKK-0 and natural KK-0 genes is only 77.2%). Flanking restriction enzyme recognition sites (upstream Bglll and downstream Xmalll and BamHI) were incorporated into the design to facilitate direct cloning into the initially chosen baculovirus transfer vector pVL1392 (InVitrogen Corporation, 3985 Sorrento Valley Boulevard, San Diego, California). Cloning with these enzymes was expected to result in the potential to transcribe the gene directly from the AcMNPV polyhedrin promoter carried by this transfer vector (see Figure 4). Several additional unique hexanucleotide recognition sequence sites were incorporated into the sKK-0 sequence at positions throughout the gene but without affecting the amino acid sequence encoded. These sites were included to facilitate recombinant characterisation and possible subsequent manipulations of the gene (see Example 14). None of the sites incorporated would result in the inclusion of particularly unfavourable codons. The resultant sKK-0 sequence [SEQ ID 1] is shown in Figure 1, highlighting the coding sequence for the KK-0 propeptide, and in Figure 2, highlighting the position of restriction enzyme recognition sites. EXAMPLE 3 Synthesis of an sKK-0 Gene The strategy selected for assembly of the sKK-0 gene involved synthesis of overlapping complementary oligonucleotides encoding the DNA fragment shown in Figures 1 and 2 followed by DNA polymerase mediated completion of the single stranded regions and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification to generate abundant quantities of the complete gene fragment (see Figure 3). Thus 4 oligonucleotides (ConoA, ConoB, ConoC, ConoD) [SEQ ID 3, 4, 5, 6], which together encode the complete sKK-0 DNA fragment, were synthesised by standard methods on an Applied Biosystems 380B DNA Synthesiser. Two additional shorter oligonucleotides, ConoPCRl & ConoPCR2 [SEQ ID 7, 8], which are identical to the 5' 30 and 28 nucleotides of ConoA and ConoD were also synthesised to use as PCR primers. Each oligonucleotide was deprotected by incubation for approx. 8 hours at 55 followed by drying down under vacuum. They were then dissolved in 200μl TE buffer (lOmM Tris/HCl (pH 8.0), ImM EDTA) , concentrations measured by UV spectroscopy (1 0D 260 ""i*/" 11 - equivalent to approximately 20μg/ml) and diluted with TE to give approximately lOμM stocks. These were stored at -20°C until use. sKK-0 synthesis reactions then comprised:- 1) Mixing 5μl each of lOμM ConoA and ConoB in a sterile 500μl conical polypropylene microfuge tube together with 5μl lOmM dGTP, lOmM dATP, lOmM dCTP, lOmM TTP and 5μl 500mM KCl, lOOmM Tris-HCl (pH 8.5), 15mM MgCl 2 0.13 gelatine, making up to 49μl with water and adding lμl (5 units) Taq DNA polymerase (Perkin/Elmer Cetus) before overlaying with 2 drops of light paraffin oil (Sigma). The tube was then capped, placed in a Techne PHC-1 p Programmable Dri-Block and subject to the following temperature cycle:- ι.r (3 94°C @ 55°C 4 ' (? 73°C 5 times, followed by a final incubation period of 7' @ 73°C. 2) Mixing 5μl each of 10μM ConoC and ConoD and treating exactly as in (1) above. 3) Taking 0.5μl reaction (1) products mixing with 0.5μl reaction (2) products and 5μl reaction (1) products mixed with reaction (2) products. To each mixture was then added lOμl lOμM ConoPCRl; lOμl 10μM ConoPCR2; lOμl 500mM KCl, lOOmM Tris-HCl (pH 8.5), 15mM MgCl 2 , 0.1% gelatine; lOμl lOmM dGTP, lOmM dATP, lOmM dCTP, lOmM TTP, and then making up to 99μl with water before adding lμl (5 units) Taq DNA polymerase (Perkin/Elmer Cetus) and finally overlaying with two drops of light paraffin oil. In parallel, control reactions were set up which lacked PCR primers, reaction 1 or reaction 2 products. The reactions were then subject to the following temperature cycle in the p Techne Programmable Dri-Block :- l.r @ 94°C 1' (3 68°C 4' (? 73°C 25 times, followed by a final incubation period of 7' @ 73°C. Analytical agarose gel electrophoresis on 10 μl aliquots of reaction 3 products then confirmed that only in those reactions which had contained all necessary DNA fragments and oligonucleotides had an approx. 270bp fragment been produced. The remainder of each DNA fragment was then worked up by phenol extraction with an equal volume of water saturated phenol (twice) and then an equal volume of water saturated n-butanol (twice) before recovery by ethanol precipitation. EXAMPLE 4 Assembly of DVL1392/SKK-0 Recombinant Transfer Vectors After recovery, each of the above PCR products was subject to digestion with Bglll and EclXI (an isoschizomer of Xmalll) restriction enzymes according to the manufacturers recommendations. In parallel an approx. 5μg aliquot of pVL1392, a commercially available baculovirus (AcMNPV) transfer vector (InVitrogen) , was similarly treated. Restriction digests were then run on a preparative 0.8% agarose/Tris-acetate electrophoresis gel containing 0.5μg/ml ethidium bromide. The PCR products and the linearised vector DNA fragments were excised from the gel under UV illumination. They were then recovered by centrifugation through siliconised glass wool and ethanol precipitation. Aliquots of the isolated insert and vector DNA fragments were then mixed, together with T4 ligase in the appropriate buffer conditions (Sambrook J., Fritsch E.F. & Maniatis T. (1989) "Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual". Cold Spring Harbor Press.). The ligation mixtures were then used to transform competent DH5α cells by standard methods (Sambrook et al . ibid.). Progeny transformants were selected by overnight growth on L agar plates containing lOOμg/ml ampicillin. Transformants were then screened for the presence of sequences complementary to the sKK-0 gene by colony hybridisation on HyBond-N (Amersham International) filters by standard procedures (Sambrook et al . ibid.). The hybridisation probe used was oligonucleotide ConoB, which had 32 been 5' phosphorylated by treatment with g P-ATP (Amersham International) and T4 polynucleotide kinase (Northumbria Biologicals Ltd.). Plasmid DNA was prepared from six strongly hybridising colonies. Restriction analysis of these DNAs suggested that three were pVL1392 derivatives containing inserts with approximately the size and features expected for sKK-0. The sequence of the inserts present in the selected pVL1392 TM recombinants (#2.2, #5.2 & #6.1) was then checked using a Sequenase (USB, Cleveland, Ohio) kit and two synthetic oligonucleotide primers (pVL1392F0R and pVL1392REV) [SEQ ID 13, 14] designed to hybridise to the regions of pVL1392 flanking the Bglll and Xmalll recognition sites and to allow sequencing of any insert introduced between those sites (see Figure 4). The sequence of the insert [SEQ, ID 15] in one of the three recombinants (#2.2) matched precisely that expected for sKK-0 cloned in the expected manner (see Figure 5). The other plasmids contained inserts with minor sequence variations (mutations). Recombinant #2.2, a derivative of transfer vector pVL1392 containing gene sKK-0 under the transcriptional control of the AcMNPV polyhedrin promoter, was therefore selected for all subsequent studies. An E.coli DH5α culture carrying recombinant plasmid pVL1392/sKK-0 #2.2 has been deposited in the National Collection of Industrial and Marine Bacteria, Aberdeen, UK as deposit number NCIMB 40540. EXAMPLE 5 Generation of Recombinant (Polyhedrin Minus) AcMNPV Carrying sKK-0 Using standard baculovirus techniques, as described for example in King & Possee (1992) "The Baculovirus Expression System: A Laboratory Guide" (Chapman & Hall), recombinant AcMNPV virus carrying sKK-0 under the transcriptional control of the polyhedrin promoter, but lacking a functional polyhedrin gene, were generated by co-transfection of Sf21 cells with approx. 200ng. Saul (Boehringer, Mannheim) linearised AcMNPV.lacZ (Possee & Howard (1987) Nucleic Acids Research 15 10233-10248) and lμg pVL1392/sKK-0 #2.2 DNA. Selection of recombinant virus was initially based on the inability of recombinant lacZ- virus to metabolise X-gal (GIBC0/BRL, Grand Island, New York) in plaques generated in Sf21 cell monolayer culture. Six such lacZ- virus ("C0N0-A", "C0N0-B", "C0N0-C", "C0N0-D", "C0N0-D" and "C0N0-E") were picked and replated on Sf21 cells to purify them to homogeneity and confirm their inability to synthesise β galactosidase. A small scale (approx. 4 ml) culture of each purified virus was then prepared by seeding 1.5 x IO 6 Sf21 cells in 4ml. TC100/7.5% foetal calf serum medium (both from GIBC0/BRL) in a 25cm tissue culture flask (Bibby, Stone, Staffs.)), incubation overnight at 28 C, addition of 50% of the virus recovered by picking a single purified plaque and continuing incubation at 28°C for a further 6 days. Aliquots of each of these virus stocks were then taken for bioassay (see Example 6). Parallel aliquots were used to prepare small samples of viral DNA for physical analysis (King & Possee (1992) ibid.). Diagnostic physical analyses undertaken with the prospective sKK-0/AcMNPV recombinants were:- a) PCR studies with sKK-0 and, in parallel, βgalactosidase gene specific primers. b) Southern blot analysis on viral DNA treated with Clal and Bglll, fractionated by electrophoresis on a 1% agarose gel, transferred to 32 HHyyBBoonndd--NN ffiilltteerrss aanndd hhyybbrriicdised with an isolated, random-primed α P- dCTP labelled, sKK-0 probe. These studies confirmed that virus "CONO-C" contained an sKK-0 gene, with all the expected physical features, and lacked a βgalactosidase gene. The other prospective recombinant viruses lacked the sKK-0 gene. EXAMPLE 6 Bioassay of Prospective AcMNPV/pVL1392/sKK-0 Recombinant Virus The biological activity of putative AcMNPV/pVL1392/sKK-0 viruses was evaluated in a series of injection studies using late-stage Heliothis virescens larvae. Aliquots of purified non-occluded virus were injected into fourth- or fifth-instar H.virescens larvae using a 10 μl Hamilton syringe fitted with a 15 mm 33 gauge needle. Typically, at least 5 larvae were injected per treatment with a standard volume of 1 μl volume of virus suspension. Control insects were injected with an equivalent volume of AcMNPV/pVL1392/lacZ virus, AcMNPV wild type virus or sterile water. After injection, larvae were held individually on artificial diet and examined at 24-hour intervals thereafter for a further 7 days. On each assessment occasion the number of live and dead larvae were recorded. Surviving larvae were examined for any unusual symptomology and/or behavioural responses. Initially, aliquots of the six putative AcMNPV/pVL1392/sKK-0 clones generated as described in Example 5 were tested. Only one, AcMNPV/pVL1392/sKK-0 CONO-C, exhibited any unusual effects. The biological observations confirmed the physical analyses described in Example 5 which indicated that only the CONO-C virus carried the sKK-0 gene with all the expected physical features. Further injection assays to characterise the biological properties of AcMNPV/pVL1392/sKK-0 CONO C were carried out using titred stocks of the virus. Data comparing the biological efficacy of AcMNPV/pVL1392/sKK-0 CONO-C and AcMNPV/pVL1392/lacZ viruses against early fourth-instar H.virescens larvae are presented in Table V. At 72 hours after treatment (72 HAT), 4/11 larvae treated with the AcMNPV/pVL1392/sKK-0 CONO C showed either full or partial flaccid paralysis. Larvae classified as "fully paralysed" were moribund: unable to stand, reinvert or walk and capable only of very feeble movements of the mouthparts and claspers in response to stimulation. "Partially paralysed" larvae showed local paralysis of the mid and posterior regions of the body although the anterior region including the head and mouthparts could respond normally to stimulation. These larvae could reinvert when placed on their backs and were capable of limited locomotion although movements were slow and poorly coordinated. At 96 HAT, all larvae treated with the AcMNPV/pVL1392/sKK-0 CONO C virus were either dead or showing abnormal symptomology. In contrast, all larvae injected with the AcMNPV/pVL1392/lacZ control virus were alive and behaving normally at 96 HAT; 1/10 of these larvae had died at 120 HAT and 6/10 larvae were dead at 144 HAT. AcMNPV/pVL1392 derivatives carrying the lacZ gene have a slower speed of kill than the wild type virus. Typically, the wild type AcMNPV starts to cause signficant mortality at 120 HAT and beyond. Thus it may be concluded that the AcMNPV/pVL1392/sKK-0 CONO C construct has a faster speed of action and hence an enhanced insecticidal effect than both the AcMNPV wild type and AcMNPV/pVL1392/lacZ control viruses. EXAMPLE 7 Assembly of pAcUW21/sKK-0 Recombinant Transfer Vectors With the objective of preparing polyhedrin (occluded) recombinant AcMNPV/sKK-O derivatives, which would be infectious per os and hence capable of realistic assessment for dose response effects and for evaluation for crop protective effects, we chose initially to employ the pAcUW21 transfer vector (AMS Biotechnology (UK) Ltd.). This transfer vector is a simple derivative (Possee R.D., personal communication) of the transfer vector pAcUW2b previously used successfully to prepare recombinant viruses capable of delivering an accelerated biological effect because of the expression of insect selective toxin genes under the control of the powerful late plO promoter (Stewart et al . (1991) Nature 35285-88; McCutchen et al . (1991) Biotechnology 9 848-852). To release a suitable sKK-0 insert for introduction into pAcUW21 a 20 μg aliquot of the pVL1392/sKK-0 #2.2 plasmid DNA was subject to digestion with EcoRI and Bglll restriction enzymes. In parallel, a 10 μg aliquot of pAcUW21 transfer vector DNA was similarly treated. The restriction digests were then run on a preparative 1% agarose/Tris-acetate electrophoresis gel containing 0.5μg/ml ethidium bromide. The released sKK-0 insert (approx. 282 base pairs) and the linearised vector DNA were excised from the gel under UV illumination. They were then recovered by centrifugation through si1iconised glass wool and ethanol precipitation. Aliquots of the isolated sKK-0 insert and pAcUW21 vector DNA fragments were then mixed, together with T4 ligase, in the appropriate buffer conditions (Sambrook et al . (1989) in "Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual" (Cold Spring Harbor Press)). The ligation mixtures were then used to transform competent DH5α cells by standard methods (Sambrook et al . ibid.). Progeny transformants were selected by overnight growth on L agar plates containing 100 μg/ml ampicillin. Plasmid DNA was prepared from six putative recombinant colonies. Restriction analysis of these DNAs suggested that all six were pAcUW21 derivatives containing inserts with the size and features expected for sKK-0. The sequence of the inserts present in two of the above six recombinants (#A1 & #A2) was then checked using a Sequenase (USB, Cleveland, Ohio) kit and two synthetic oligonucleotide primers designed to hybridise to the sKK-0 insert. The sequence of the inserts of both clones matched precisely that expected for sKK-0 cloned in the intended manner. Recombinant #A1, a derivative of transfer vector pAcUW21 containing gene sKK-0 under the transcriptional control of the AcMNPV plO promoter, was therefore selected for subsequent studies. This recombinant transfer vector also possesses an intact AcMNPV polyhedrin gene under the control of the natural polyhedrin promoter. EXAMPLE 8 Generation of a Recombinant (Polyhedrin Plus) AcMNPV Carrying a plO Promoter/sKK-O Gene Expression Unit Standard baculovirus techniques (King & Possee (1992) "The Baculovirus Expression System: A Laboratory Guide" (Chapman & Hall)) were used to generate polyhedrin τ (occluded) AcMNPV derivatives carrying the sKK-0 gene under the transcriptional control of the plO promoter. This was accomplished by co-transfection of Sf21 cells with 200 ng.Saul (Boehringer Mannheim) linearised AcMNPV.lacZ (Possee & Howard (1987) Nucleic Acids Research 15 10233-10248) and 1 μg pAcUW21/sKK-0 recombinant #A1 DNA. Candidate recombinant AcMNPV/sKK-0 viruses were then selected by plaque purification on Sf21 cell monolayers (King & Possee (1992) ibid.) screening initially for inability of viruses to metabolise X-gal (GIBC0/BRL, Grand Island, New York) and the ability to produce polyhedra (viral occlusion bodies) as judged by microscopy. Six such lacZ- virus (AcMNPV/pAcUW21/sKK-0 #1, AcMNPV/pAcUW21/sKK-0 #2, AcMNPV/pAcUW21/sKK-0 #3, AcMNPV/pAcUW21/sKK-0 #4, AcMNPV/pAcUW21/sKK-0 #5 and AcMNPV/pAcUW21/sKK-0 #6) were picked. A second plaque assay was then performed with the above six clones on Sf21 cell monolayers to purify them to homogeneity and confirm their inability to synthesise βgalactosidase and their ability to produce polyhedra. A small scale cultures of each purified virus was then prepared as described in Example 5. Aliquots of each of these virus stocks were then taken for bioassay (see Example 9). Parallel aliquots were used to prepare small samples of viral DNA for physical analysis. Southern blot analyses were performed on the prospective AcMNPV/pAcUW21/sKK-0 viral DNAs. These DNAs were treated with: (a) Hindi11 and (b) EcoRI and BamHI, fractionated by electrophoresis on a 1% agarose gel, transferred to Hybond-N filters and hybridised with an isolated, 32 random-primed α P-dCTP labelled, sKK-0 probe. These studies confirmed that viruses AcMNPV/pAcUW21/sKK-0 #1, AcMNPV/pAcUW21/sKK-0 #4 and AcMNPV/pAcUW21/sKK-0 #5 each contained an sKK-0 gene, with all the anticipated physical features, lacked a βgalactosidase gene and produced polyhedrin virus particles. Virus AcMNPV/pAcUW21/sKK-0 #1 was selected for all subsequent studies. EXAMPLE 9 Bioassay of Prospective AcMNPV/pAcUW21/sKK-0 Recombinant Virus The biological properties of putative AcMNPV/pAcUW21/sKK-0 viruses were evaluated in a series of injection and oral dosing studies against H.virescens. Injection assays using purified non-occluded virus stocks were carried out using the method outlined in Example 6. Oral dosing tests with purified polyhedra were undertaken using a modified version of the droplet feeding method for neonate larvae developed by Hughes and Wood ((1981) J.Invertebr. Pathol. 3Z, 54). Preliminary injection studies on the six putative AcMNPV/pAcUW21/sKK-0 viruses generated as described in Example 8 indicated that only three clones (AcMNPV/pAcUW21/sKK-0 #1,#4 and #5) were carrying the sKK-0 gene. Some of the larvae treated with these viruses exhibited abnormal symptoms which initially appeared to be analagous to those observed in insects treated with the AcMNPV/pVL1392/sKK-0 CONO C virus. Subsequent studies on AcMNPV/pCUW21/sKK-0 #1, however, confirmed that these "abnormal" effects were generally poorly defined and not particularly debilitating and that AcMNPV/pAcUW21/sKK-0 #1 showed no noticeable advantage over the wild type AcMNPV in terms of speed of action or insecticidal effect. Oral dosing studies comparing the biological efficacy of AcMNPV/pAcUW21/sKK-0 #1 and the wild type AcMNPV confirmed these observations. EXAMPLE 10 Pre p aration of AcUWl-PH DNA for the Generation of Recombinant AcMNPV In light of the different behaviour of polyhedrin minus AcMNPV derivatives in which the sKK-0 gene is expressed from the polyhedrin promoter (Examples 4,5 & 6) as compared to polyhedrin plus AcMNPV derivatives in which the sKK-0 gene was expressed from the plO promoter (Examples 7, 8 & 9) , we decided to construct a polyhedrin plus derivative in which the sKK-0 gene was expressed from the polyhedrin promoter to establish if improved insecticidal efficacy could be achieved with the polyhedrin promoter/sKK-0 expression unit but not with the plO promoter/sKK-0 expression unit. The virus selected as a recipient for the polyhedrin promoter/sKK-0 expression unit was AcUWl-PH (see Weyer et al . (1990) J.Gen.Virol. 71 1525- 1534 and Figure 6). This virus carries a plO pro oter/polyhedrin gene expression unit at the locus occupied by the plO gene in wild type AcMNPV and a polyhedrin promoter/lacZ indicator gene expression unit at the location normally occupied by the polyhedrin gene. It will therefore form plaques on an Sf21 cell monolayer which contain cells carrying AcMNPV occlusion bodies and which stain blue in the presence of X-Gal indicator (GIBCO/BRL, Grand Island, New York). Replacement of the polyhedrin promoter/lacZ expression unit with the polyhedrin promoter/sKK-0 expression unit of the pVL1392/sKK-0 #2.2 recombinant transfer vector was therefore anticipated to be a convenient means of preparing a polyhedrin plus AcMNPV derivative carrying a polyhedrin promoter/sKK-0 gene expression unit. A stock of of AcUWl-PH virus of unknown titre was kindly provided by Dr R. D. Possee (NERC Institute of Virology and Environmental Microbiology, Mansfield Road, Oxford). Small scale amplification cultures of this virus were then prepared by seeding 3 lots of 1.5 x 10 Sf21 cells in 4 ml. TC100/10% foetal calf serum medium (both from GIBCO/BRL) in 25 cm 2 tissue culture flasks (Bibby, Stone, Staffs.), incubation overnight at 28°C, followed by addition of 50 μl , 5 μl and 5 μl of a 1/10 dilution aliquots of the stock virus to one flask each and continuing incubation at 28°C for a further 6 days. These small scale amplifications were titered using the standard plaque assay technique (King & Possee (1992) "The Baculovirus Expression System: A Laboratory Guide" (Chapman & Hall)). All plaques obtained contained inclusion bodies and stained blue in the presence of X- Gal. The virus stock produced from the initial 50μl input culture had a titre of 2.3 x 10 pfu/ml and was used to produce larger, 200 ml. spinner stock culturess of AcUWl-PH, from which purified stocks of virus and subsequently viral DNA were prepared by standard methods (King & Possee (1992) ibid. & Possee & Howard (1987) Nucleic Acids Research 15 10233- 10248). A stock of linearised AcUWl-PH DNA was then prepared by digestion of 3μg viral DNA with Saul (Boehringer Mannheim) according to the manufacturer's recommendations since this enzyme cleaves only within the β galactosidase gene and, as with AcMNPV.lacZ, this was anticipated to be a procedure which would facilitate production and detection of recombinant AcMNPV progeny (King & Possee (1992) ibid.). EXAMPLE 11 Generation of Recombinant (Polyhedrin Plus) AcMNPV Carrying a Polyhedrin Promoter/sKK-0 Gene Expression Unit Using standard baculovirus techniques (King & Possee (1992) ibid.), recombinant AcMNPV viruses carrying sKK-0 under the transcriptional control of the polyhedrin promoter, with an active polyhedrin gene, were then generated by using the Saul linearised AcUWl-PH virus DNA as a recipient for the polyhedrin promoter/sKK-0 expression module from pVL1392/sKK-0 #2.2. This was accomplished by co-transfection of Sf21 cells with 200 ng. Saul linearised AcUWl-PH DNA prepared as described in Example 10 and 1 μg pVL1392/sKK-0 #2.2 DNA. Using the plaque assay technique, where the viruses generate plaques in Sf21 cell monolayer culture, recombinant virus were selected by initially screening for viruses which lacked the ability to metabolise X-gal (GIBCO/BRL, Grand Island, New York) but retained the ability to produce occlusion bodies (polyhedra). Six such lacZ- virus (AcUWl-PH/KKO #1, AcUWl-PH/KKO #2, AcUWl-PH/KKO #3, AcUWl-PH/KKO #4, AcUWl- PH/KKO #5, AcUWl-PH/KKO #6) were picked. A second plaque assay was then performed with each of the above six clones on Sf21 to purify them to homogeneity and confirm their inability to synthesise βgalactosidase and their ability to produce polyhedra. Small scale cultures of each purified virus were then prepared by the methods outlined in Example 5. Aliquots of each of these virus stocks were then taken for bioassay (see Example 12). In parallel aliquots of the small scale virus stocks were used to prepare small samples of viral DNA for physical analysis. Southern blot analysis were performed on the prospective AcUWl- PH/pVL1392/sKK-0 viral DNAs. These DNAs were treated with Bglll and BscI (an isoschizomer of Clal), fractionated by electrophoresis on a 1.4% agarose gel, transferred to Hybond-N filters and hybridised with an 32 isolated, random-primed α P-dCTP labelled, sKK-0 probe. These studies confirmed that viruses AcUWl-PH/sKK-0 #2, AcUWl-PH/sKK-0 #4, AcUWl-PH/sKK-0 #5 and AcUWl-PH/sKK-0 #6 each contained an sKK-0 gene, with all the anticipated physical features, lacked a βgalactosidase gene and produced polyhedrin virus particles. Virus AcUWl-PH/sKKO #2 was selected for subsequent studies. EXAMPLE 12 Bioassay of Prospective AcUWl-PH/pVL1392/sKK-0 Recombinant Virus The biological efficacy of putative AcUWl-PH/pVL1392/sKK-0 recombinant viruses was evaluated in a series of injection and oral dosing studies against Heliothis virescens larvae. Injection assays with purified non- occluded virus stocks were undertaken using the methods described in Example 6. Oral dosing studies with purified polyhedra were carried out using a modified version of the droplet feeding assay described in Example 9. Preliminary injection studies comparing the biological activity of the six putative AcUWl-PH/pVL1392/sKK-0 viruses generated as described in Example 11 indicated that only viruses AcUWl-PH/sKK-0 #2, AcUWl-PH/sKK-0 #4, AcUWl-PH/sKK-0 #5 and AcUWl-PH/sKK-0 #6 might have an enhanced insecticidal effect compared to the wild type virus. AcUWl-PH/pVL1392/sKK- 0 #2 was selected for scale-up and further characterisation. Injection assay data indicated that larvae treated with the AcUWl- PH/pVL1392/sKK-0 #2 virus demonstrated abnormal symptomology from 72 HAT onwards (Table VI). By 96 HAT the majority of larvae were dead and the only survivor was paralysed. All larvae were dead by 144 HAT. In contrast, no abnormal effects were observed in larvae treated with wild type AcMNPV until 120 HAT when 50% of larvae were dead; 100% mortality was recorded for the wild type AcMNPV at 144 HAT. A series of oral dosing studies was carried out to compare the biological efficacy of AcUWl-PH/pVL1392/sKK-0 and the wild type AcMNPV using purified polyhedra. In all cases, the AcUWl-PH/pVL1392/sKK-0 #2 was shown to have a significantly faster speed of kill than the wild type and hence an improved insecticidal effect. Larvae treated with the AcUWl- PH/pVL1392/sKK-0 virus started to show symptoms of paralysis and death from 72 HAT onwards (Table VII). Probit analysis of the dose response data confirmed that the speed of kill of AcUWl-PH/pVL1392/sKK-0 #2 was significantly faster than that of the wild type AcMNPV at 72 and 96 HAT but that by 120 HAT the wild type virus had caught up. EXAMPLE 13 Construction and Cloning of a Synthetic Gene Encoding the KK-1 Conotoxin As reported by Woodward et al.(1990) EMB0 J. 9 1015-1020, the cone snail Conus textile produces a series of low molecular weight neuroactive peptides designated as belonging to the "King Kong" toxin family and, as described in Example 1 chemically synthetised preparations of both KK-0 and KK-1 showed significant effects on injection into a panel of pest insect species. Given the further evidence, resulting from the studies described in Example 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11 and 12, that AcMNPV derivatives which have the capacity to express a synthetic KK-0 gene have substantially improved insecticidal activity, we have also investigated the capacity of KK-1 to influence the behaviour of recombinant AcMNPV viruses. The sequence of KK-1 toxin mRNA was described by Woodward et a1. (ibid.) alongside that of KK-0 mRNA as a result of cDNA cloning and characterisation studies on Conus textile venom gland preparations. These studies revealed that, although mature KK-0 and and the predicted mature KK-1 have only about 26% identity (see Table 2), they are processed from probable pre-pro-toxins with substantially higher levels of homology and which obviously represent members of a protein family. Specifically KK-1 mRNA codes for a propeptide of 77 amino acids with a high level of sequence homology (88 - 92 %) with KK-0 (78 amino acids) in the region encoding the N-terminal 51 a inoacids, as compared to the level of only 26% in the C- terminal region corresponding to the mature toxins (see Figure 7). Within the presumed signal sequence region (residues 1-22 (approx) according to the rules developed by von Heijne (1986) Nucleic Acids Research 144683- 4690) amino acid identity is 100%. In planning a design for a synthetic KK-1 gene (sKK-1), given the absolute identity of the presumed signal sequences for pre-pro-KK-0 and pre-pro-KK-1 we chose only to construct a synthetic DNA fragment encoding the pro-toxin part of KK-1. More specifically we designed a DNA fragment encoding this region which was flanked by the PstI and Xmalll restriction sites which had been built into the original sKK-0 gene for such gene manipulation purposes (see Figure 2) . These features were designed to allow:- Reduction to a minimum of the amount of the new synthetic KK-1 (sKK-1) gene which we needed to assemble by harnessing the identical, and apparently effective, signal sequence coding part of existing KK-0 constructs The basic design developed for the sKK-1 gene fragment is outlined in Figure 8. Additional features of the design for this DNA fragment include:- * Selection of insect preferred/good codon usage based on data published by Wada et al. (1992) (Nucleic Acids Research 20 Supplement 2111-2118). * Inclusion of additional flanking EcoRI and BamHI restriction sites to facilitate primary cloning, characterisation and subsequent manipulations of the fragment. In Figure 9 we show the sequence [SEQ ID 23] of the novel synthetic sKK-1 fragment, together with amino acids encoded by the major open reading frame (pro-KK-1) [SEQ ID 24] in comparison with the corresponding sequence of pro KK-0 [SEQ ID 25]. To assemble the novel sKK-1 pro-toxin gene discussed above and shown in Figure 8, we chose to use an adaptation of the method previously employed successfully to construct the sKK-0 gene. Thus, as shown in Figure 10, two synthetic oligonucleotides - SYNKK1A ( a 111-mer) [SEQ ID 26] and SYNKK1B (a 106-mer) [SEQ ID 27], which encode complementary DNA strands and together cover the complete 196nt of sKK-1 with a 21 bp overlap, were synthesised. In addition, two further oligonucleotides (KKIPCRI and KK1PCR2) [SEQ ID 28, 29] were prepared, which would be capable of acting as PCR primers to allow amplification of the complete sKK-1 fragment following annealing of SYNKK1A and SYNKK1B and fill in repair with Taq DNA polymerase. Following synthesis, deprotection etc. of these oligonucleotides as described in Example 3 they were used in a similar manner to that previously described for the sKK-0 gene fragment. Since the sKK-1 fragment was, however, being assembled from only two (rather than four) overlapping oligonucleotides on this occasion only a single "5-cycle PCR repair" reaction was undertaken before progressing to the 25 cycle amplification phase with 0.5μl or 5μl innocula of the repair reaction products. As previously with the sKK-0 gene, these reactions and suitable controls proceeded exactly as anticipated. Substantial quantities (several μg) of a novel approx. 200bp DNA fragment were generated when all necessary oligonucleotides were included. Omission of individual oligonucleotides eliminated production of this fragment. Prior to attempting to clone the novel sKK-1 DNA fragment it was worked up by phenol extraction and ethanol precipitation by standard methods (Sambrook et al . (1989) in "Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual" (Cold Spring Harbor Press)). The sKK-1 gene fragment thus prepared should only encode the mature and the presumed pro-sequences but not the signal peptide of the natural KK-1 gene. To verify its structure and obtain material to work with further, it was initially digested with EcoRI and BamHI restriction enzymes (see Figure 8 and 11). It was then cloned into the EcoRI and BamHI sites of pMMSIB - a simple derivative of pUC19 carrying an alternative polylinker sequence [SEQ ID 30] which rendered it particularly convenient for accomodating and manipulating the sKK-1 fragment (see Figure 12). The products of this ligation were transformed into competent E.coli DH5α cells and twelve putative recombinants were picked for further analysis. The above clones were analysed by restriction enzyme analysis using the cloning enzymes to release the insert. Six of the clones, containing an apparently correctly sized insert, were then chosen for sequence analysis essentially as described in Example 4 using the so-called universal and reverse M13 sequencing primers which recognise regions flanking the polylinker region of this pUC19 derivative. One of the six recombinants (pMMS/KK-1 #3.2) had an insert which matched precisely that expected for sKK-1 cloned in the anticipated manner. This clone was used for the final assembly of the complete sKK-1 gene by fusion to the pro-peptide coding sequence of sKK-0 as follows. The Pstl/Ba HI fragment of clone pMMS/KK-1 #3.2 was isolated and subcloned into pVL1392/sKK-0 #2.2 vector which had been digested with Pstl/BamHI according to the manufacturers rcommendations (see Figure 13) to provide a gene fragment encoding a complete pre-pro KK-1 primary transcript - comprising the signal sequence of sKK-0 and the pro and mature sequences of sKK-1 - in the pVL1392 transfer vector. The ligation products were then transformed into competent E.coli DH5α cells and twelve putative recombinants were picked for further analysis. The above clones were analysed by restriction enzyme cleavage using the cloning enzymes and EcoRI which should only cut the pVL1392/sKK-0 clone and not the pVU392/sKK-l recombinants. Based on this analysis two of the clones were then chosen for sequence analysis. One of these recombinants (pVL1392/sKK-l #1) had the anticipated sequence and was chosen for recombinant AcMNPV assembly. EXAMPLE 14 Generation of Recombinant (Polyhedrin Minus) AcMNPV Carrying a Polyhedrin Promoter/sKK-1 Gene Expression Unit The methods utilised here were identical to those described in Example 4. Therefore, using the methods described in Example 4, six putative AcMNPV/pVL1392/sKK-l (isolates 1 to 6) recombinant viruses were prepared. Physical analyses were then undertaken to establish which viruses carried intact sKK-1 genes. As previously described, biological assays were performed on all 6 viruses. The results were: Three of the six possible pVL1392/sKK-l (1, 5 and 6) isolates had a complete sKK-1 gene. None of these viruses displayed any enhancement in insecticidal activity when injected into H.virescens larvae. Table 1 : Sequence Similarities Between Biologically Active Peptides in the ω-Conotoxin/"King-Kong" Conotoxin Family Cono-KK-0 WCKQSGEMCNLLDQN--CCDG.-YCIVLV CT Cono-KK-1 CIEQFDPCEMIRHT--CCVGV-CFLMA CI Cono-KK-2 CAPFLHPCTFFFPN--CCN-SYCVQFI CL Cono-GVIA CKSPGSSCSPTSYN--CCR-S-CNPYTK RCY Cono-MVIIB CKGKGASCHRTSYD--CCTGS-CNRG-K C μ-Agatoxin ADCVGDGQRCAD-WAGPYCCSGYYCSCR--SMPYCRCRSDS Curtatoxin ADCVGDGQKCAD-WFGPYCCSGYYCSCR--SMPYCRCRSDS Buthus Pep 'VGCEED MNCKGKQAKPTCCNGV-CN C-NV CTL ACAETGAVCVHNDE---CCSGA-CSPIF NY--CLPQ Mj-AMPl QCIGNGGRCNENVGPPYCCSGF-CL-RQPGQGYGYCKNR r* σ> KK-0 KK-1 KK-2 GV1A MVIIB μ-Aga3 Curt 2 BuPeρ2 CTL MJ- AMP1 KK-0 - 7/27 8/27 9/27 9/27 9/27 9/27 7/27 9/27 9/27 KK-1 7/26 - 7/26 6/26 7/26 7/26 7/26 9/26 8/26 8/26 KK-2 8/26 7/26 - 8/26 7/26 7/26 7/26 7/26 7/26 6/26 GV1A 9/27 6/27 8/27 - 15/27 8/27 8/27 7/27 8/27 7/27 MV1IB 9/25 7/25 7/25 15/25 - 9/25 9/25 8/25 9/25 10/25 μAgA 3 9/38 7/38 7/38 8/38 9/38 - 36/38 10/38 9/38 14/38 Curt 2 9/38 7/38 7/38 8/38 9/38 36/38 - 9/38 11/38 14/38 BuPep2 7/28 9/28 7/28 7/28 8/28 10/28 9/28 - 8/28 9/28 CTL 9/30 8/30 7/30 8/30 9/30 9/30 11/30 8/30 - 11/30 Mj- 9/37 8/37 6/37 7/37 10/37 14/37 11/37 9/37 11/37 - AMPl Table 2 : Percentage Similarities Between Biologically Active Peptides in the ω-Conotoxin/ "King-Kong " Conotoxin Family Cono-KK-0 WCKQSGEMCNLLDQN- -CCDG-YCIVLV CT Cono-KK-1 CIEQFDPCEMIRHT--CCVGV-CFLMA CI Cono-KK-Z CAPFLHPCTFFFPN- -CCN-SYCVQFI -CL Cono-GVIA CKSPGSSCSPTSYN- -CCR-S-CNPYTK RCY Cono-MVIIB CKGKGASCHRTSYD- -CCTGS-CNRG-K C μ-Aga toxin 3 ADCVGDG.QRCAD-WAGPYCCSGYYCSCR- -SMPYCRCRSDS Curtatoxin 2 ADCVGDGQKCAD-WFGPYCCSGYYCSCR- - SMPYCRCRSDS Buthus Pep 2 VGCEEDPMNCKGKQAKPTCCNGV-CN C-NV CTL ACAETGAVCVHNDE---CCSGA-CSPIF- - -NY- -CLPQ Mj -AMPl QCIGNGGRCNENVGPPYCCSGF-CL-RQPGQGYGYCKNR 2 m m. __ KK-0 KK-1 KK-2 GVIA MVIIB μ-Aga3 Curt 2 BuPep2 CTL Mj- AMPl KK-0 - 261 30X 33X 33X 33X 33X 26X 33X 33X KK-1 27X - 27X 23X 27X 27X 27X 35X 31X 31X KK-2 31Z 27X - 31X 27X 27X Z7X 27X 27X 23X GVIA 33X 22X 30X - 56X 30X 30X 26X 30X 26X MVIIB 36Z 28X 28X 60X - 36X 36X 32X 36X 40X μAgA 3 2.X 18X 18X 21X 24X - 95X 26X 24X 37Z Curt 2 24Z 18X 18X 21X 2«X 95X - 2.X 29X 37X BuPepZ 251 32X 25X 25X 29X 36X 32X - 29X 32X CTL 30Z 27X 23X 27X 30X 30X 37X 27X - 37X Mj- 2.Z 22X 16X 19X 27X 38Z 38X 2.X 30X - AMPl Tab e III Preliminary assessment of the biological activity of synthetic preparations of KK-0, KK-1 AND KK-2 proteins by injection into Heliothis virescens larvae Treatment Dose Effects per insect KK-0 1 μ \ Loss of coordination within 30 sees post- injection. All larvae showing flaccid paralysis within 2-4 mins of injection & unable to stand, reinvert or respond to stimulation; limp & pliable. Effects began to wear off after 4-6 minutes & most larvae appeared normal at 10 mins post-injection. All larvae alive & well at 24 HAT. 2 μ ] Symptoms as above but more severe & prolonged. Gradual recovery with all larvae appearing normal at 45 mins after injection. All alive & well at 24 HAT. KK-1 1 μl Symptoms first observed within 30 sees of injection. Most larvae showing flaccid paralysis within 2-4 minutes: symptoms as for KK-0. Effects were short-lived & all larvae appeared normal at 6-10 mins post-injection. All larave alive & normal at 24 HAT. KK-2 1 l No adverse effects observed even at 24 HAT. Control 2 - No adverse effects observed during experiment. Six fifth-instar larvae injected per treatment; average body mass: 300 mg Control: 2 μ 1 0.1M ammonium bicarbonate Table IV: Preliminary assessment of the biological activity of synthetic preparations of KK-0, KK-1 and KK-2 proteins against Periplaneta americana 1 by injection. Control: 10 μl 0.1M ammonium bicarbonate solution Table V: Evaluation of the biological efficacy of AcMNPV/pVL1392/sKK-0 CONO C by injection into Heliothis virescens larvae 6 Number dead (+ affected) Treatment' 24 hr 48 hr 72 hr 96 hr 120 hr 144 HR AcMNPV/pVL1392/ 0/10 0/10 0/10 0/10 1/10 6/10 lacZ 1 AcMNPV/pVL1392/ 0/11 0/11 0/11 3/11 5/11 11/11 sKK-0 Cono C' (+3FP 3 ,1PP 4 ) (+1FP.3PP.4AF 5 ) (+5FP.1PP) C _rΛ Control 2 0/7 0/7 0/7 0/7 0/7 1/7 rπ m to c Dose rate = 1.5xl0 4 pfu/larva. Control = Sterile water. r FP - Full flaccid paralysis: insect is moribund, cannot stand, walk or reinvert & is capable only of limited feeble movements of mouthparts and claspers in response to stimulation; limp & pliable. PP - Partial paralysis: mid/posterior part of body is partially paralysed; larva is still capable of some locomotory activity and can reinvert but movements are poorly coordinated. AF - Affected: larva responds slowly to stimulation but is unable/unwilling to walk or feed. Fourth-instar larvae; average body mass = 100 mg. Table VI: Evaluation of the biological efficacy of AcUWl-PH/pVL1392/ sKK-0 §2 and AcMNPV wild type viruses by injection into Heliothis virescens larvae' Table VII: Evaluation of the biological efficacy of AcUWl-PH/pVL1392/ sKK-0 f2 and AcMNPV wild type viruses against H.virescens larvae by oral dosing 1 Time after AcMNPV ' wild type AcUWl- PH/pVL1392/sKK-0#2 treatment (hr. LΓ 3 95% CI. LC50 95% CI. 96 *** _ 6.1xl0 6 3.3xl0 6 -1.7xl0 7 120 7.6xl0 6 4.4xl0 6 -1.9xl0 7 5.2xl0 6 2.7xl0 6 -1.6xl0 7 144 6.6xl0 6 3.9xl0 6 -1.5xl0 7 4.3xl0 6 2.3xl0 6 -1.2xl0 7 168 6.6xl0 6 3.9xl0 6 -1.5xl0 6 4.0xl0 6 2.2xl0 6 -1.0xl0 7 Neonate larvae dosed using a modified version of the droplet feeding assay (Hughes & Wood, 1981); 30 larvae/dose. ( ) % paralysed larvae LC 50 values (PIBs/ml virus suspension) estimated using a standard logit dose response procedure (Ashton, 1972). SEQUENCE LISTING (1) GENERAL INFORMATION: (i) APPLICANT: ZENECA, LIMITED (ii) TITLE OF INVENTION: BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENTS (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 37 (iv) CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS: (A) ADDRESSEE: ICI GROUP PATENTS SERVICES DEPARTMENT (B) STREET: PO BOX 6, SHIRE PARK, BESSAMER ROAD (C) CITY: WELWYN GARDEN CITY (D) STATE: HERTFORDSHIRE (E) COUNTRY: UNITED KINGDOM (F) ZIP: AL7 1HD (v) COMPUTER READABLE FORM: (A) MEDIUM TYPE: Floppy disk (B) COMPUTER: IBM PC compatible (C) OPERATING SYSTEM: PC-DOS/MS-DOS (D) SOFTWARE: Patentin Release #1.0, Version #1.25 (vi) CURRENT APPLICATION DATA: (A) APPLICATION NUMBER: (B) FILING DATE: (C) CLASSIFICATION: (vii) PRIOR APPLICATION DATA: (A) APPLICATION NUMBER: GB 9306295.8 (B) FILING DATE: 22-MAR-1993 (viii) ATTORNEY/AGENT INFORMATION: (A) NAME: BISHOP, NIGEL D (B) REGISTRATION NUMBER: GEN AUTHN 31434 (C) REFERENCE/DOCKET NUMBER: PPD37491 (ix) TELECOMMUNICATION INFORMATION: (A) TELEPHONE: (+44) 0707323400 (B) TELEFAX: (+44) 0707337454 (C) TELEX: 94028500 ICIC G (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO.l: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 269 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:1: TTAGATCTAA TTCACCATGA AGCTGACATG TATGATGATC GTGGCCGTGC TGTTCCTGAC 60 CGCCTGGACC TTCGCCACTG CAGACGATCC CCGCAACGGC CTGGGCAACC TGTTCTCCAA 120 CGCCCACCAC GAAATGAAGA ACCCCGAGGC ATCCAAGCTT AACAAGCGCT GGTGTAAGCA 180 GTCCGGAGAG ATGTGTAACC TGCTGGACCA GAACTGTTGT GACGGCTACT GTATCGTGCT 240 GGTGTGCACC TAGTGACGGC CGGATCCTT 269 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID N0:2: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 78 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:2: Met Lys Leu Thr Cys Met Met Ile Val Ala Val Leu Phe Leu Thr Ala 1 5 10 15 Trp Thr Phe Ala Thr Ala Asp Asp Pro Arg Asn Gly Leu Gly Asn Leu 20 25 30 Phe Ser Asn Ala His His Glu Met Lys Asn Pro Glu Ala Ser Lys Leu 35 40 45 Asn Lys Arg Trp Cys Lys Gin Ser Gly Glu Met Cys Asn Leu Leu Asp 50 55 60 Gin Asn Cys Cys Asp Gly Tyr Cys Ile Val Leu Val Cys Thr 65 70 75 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID N0:3: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 84 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:3: TTAGATCTAA TTCACCATGA AGCTGACATG TATGATGATC GTGGCCGTGC TGTTCCTGAC 60 CGCCTGGACC TTCGCCACTG CAGA 84 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID N0:4: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 89 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:4: GGATGCCTCG GGGTTCTTCA TTTCGTGGTG GGCGTTGGAG AACAGGTTGC CCAGGCCGTT 60 GCGGGGATCG TCTGCAGTGG CGAAGGTCC 89 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID N0:5: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 89 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:5: CACGAAATGA AGAACCCCGA GGCATCCAAG CTTAACAAGC GCTGGTGTAA GCAGTCCGGA 60 GAGATGTGTA ACCTGCTGGA CCAGAACTG 89 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID N0:6: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 73 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:6: AAGGATCCGG CCGTCACTAG GTGCACACCA GCACGATACA GTAGCTACAG TAGCCGTCTG 60 GTCACTAGGT TAC 73 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:7: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 30 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:7: TTAGATCTAA TTCACCATGA AGCTGACATG 30 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID N0:8: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 26 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:8: AAGGATCCGG CCGTCACTAG GTGCAC 26 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID N0:9: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 45 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:9: GATCAGATCT GCAGCGGCCG CTCCAGAATT CTAGAAGGTA CCCGG 45 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:10: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 45 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:10: GATCCCGGGT ACCTTCTAGA ATTCCGGAGC GGCCGCTGCA GATCT 45 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:11: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 19 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:11: TATAAATATG CCGGATTAT 19 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:12: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 49 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:12: TATAAATATT CCGGATTATT CATACCGTCC CACCATCGGG CGCGGATCC 49 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:13: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 15 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:13: CTGTTTTCGT AACAG 15 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:14: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 15 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:14: CGGATTTCCT TGAAG 15 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:15: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 282 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:15: GGCGCGGATC AGATCTAATT CACCATGAAG CTGACATGTA TGATGATCGT GGCCGTGCTG 60 TTCCTGACCG CCTGGACCTT CGCCACTGCA GACGATCCCC GCAACGGCCT GGGCAACCTG 120 TTCTCCAACG CCCACCACGA AATGAAGAAC CCCGAGGCAT CCAAGCTTAA CAAGCGCTGG 180 TGTAAGCAGT CCGGAGAGAT GTGTAACCTG CTGGACCAGA ACTGTTGTGA CGGCTACTGT 240 ATCGTGCTGG TGTGCACCTA GTGACGGCCG CTCCAGAATT CT 282 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:16: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 78 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:16: Met Lys Leu Thr Cys Met Met Ile Val Ala Val Leu Phe Leu Thr Ala 1 5 10 15 Trp Thr Phe Ala Thr Ala Asp Asp Pro Arg Asn Gly Leu Gly Asn Leu 20 25 30 Phe Ser Asn Ala His His Glu Met Lys Asn Pro Glu Ala Ser Lys Leu 35 40 45 Asn Lys Arg Trp Cys Lys Gin Ser Gly Glu Met Cys Asn Leu Leu Asp 50 55 60 Gin Asn Cys Cys Asp Gly Tyr Cys Ile Val Leu Val Cys Thr 65 70 75 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:17: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 77 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:17: Met Lys Leu Thr Cys Met Met He Val Ala Val Leu Phe Leu Thr Ala 1 5 10 15 Trp Thr Phe Ala Thr Ala Asp Asp Ser Ser Asn Gly Leu Glu Asn Leu 20 25 30 Phe Ser Lys Ala His His Glu Met Lys Asn Pro Glu Ala Ser Lys Leu 35 40 45 Asn Lys Arg Cys Ile Glu Gin Phe Asp Pro Cys Glu Met Ile Arg His 50 55 60 Thr Cys Cys Val Gly Val Cys Phe Leu Met Ala Cys Ile 65 70 75 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:18: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 77 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (i i ) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (xi ) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION : SEQ ID N0: 18: Met Lys Leu Thr Cys Met Met H e Val Al a Val Leu Phe Leu Thr Al a 1 5 10 15 Trp Thr Phe Val Thr Ala Asp Asp Ser Gly Asn Gly Leu Glu Asn Leu 20 25 30 Phe Ser Lys Ala His His Glu Met Lys Asn Pro Glu Ala Ser Asn Leu 35 40 45 Asn Lys Arg Cys Ala Pro Phe Leu His Pro Cys Thr Phe Phe Phe Pro 50 55 60 Asn Cys Cys Asn Ser Tyr Cys Val Gin Phe Ile Cys Leu 65 70 75 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:19: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 27 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:19: Trp Cys Lys Gin Ser Gly Glu Met Cys Asn Leu Leu Asp Gin Asn Cys 1 5 10 15 Cys Asp Gly Tyr Cys Ile Val Leu Val Cys Thr 20 25 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID N0:20: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 26 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:20: Cys Ile Glu Gin Phe Asp Pro Cys Glu Met Ile Arg His Thr Cys Cys 1 5 10 15 Val Gly Val Cys Phe Leu Met Ala Cys Ile 20 25 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID N0:21: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 26 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:21: Cys Ala Pro Phe Leu His Pro Cys Thr Phe Phe Phe Pro Asn Cys Cys 1 5 10 15 Asn Ser Tyr Cys Val Gin Phe Ile Cys Leu 20 25 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID N0:22: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 25 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:22: Cys Lys Gly Lys Gly Ala Lys Cys Ser Arg Leu Met Tyr Asp Cys Cys 1 5 10 15 Thr Gly Ser Cys Arg Ser Gly Lys Cys 20 25 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID N0:23: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 196 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:23: TGGAATTCTG CAGACGACAG CTCCAACGGC CTGGAGAACC TGTTCTCCAA GGCCCACCAC 60 GAGATGAAGA ACCCCGAGGC CTCCAAGCTT AACAAGCGTT GCATCGAGCA GTTCGACCCC 120 TGCGAGATGA TCCGTCACAC CTGCTGCGTC GGCGTCTGCT TCCTGATGGC CTGCATCTAG 180 TGACGGCCGG ATCCTT 196 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID N0:24: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 56 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:24: Ala Asp Asp Ser Ser Asn Gly Leu Glu Asn Leu Phe Ser Lys Ala His 1 5 10 15 His Glu Met Lys Asn Pro Glu Ala Ser Lys Leu Asn Lys Arg Cys Ile 20 25 30 Glu Gin Phe Asp Pro Cys Glu Met Ile Arg His Thr Cys Cys Val Gly 35 40 45 Val Cys Phe Leu Met Ala Cys Ile 50 55 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID N0:25: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 57 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:25: Ala Asp Asp Pro Arg Asn Gly Leu Gly Asn Leu Phe Ser Asn Ala His 1 5 10 15 His Glu Met Lys Asn Pro Glu Ala Ser Lys Leu Asn Lys Arg Trp Cys 20 25 30 Lys Gin Ser Gly Glu Met Cys Asn Leu Leu Asp Gin Asn Cys Cys Asp 35 40 45 Gly Tyr Cys Ile Val Leu Tyr Cys Thr 50 55 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID N0:26: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 111 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:26: TGGAATTCTG CAGACGACAG CTCCAACGGC CTGGAGAACC TGTTCTCCAA GGCCCACCAC 60 GAGATGAAGA ACCCCGAGGC CTCCAAGCTT AACAAGCGTT GCATCGAGCA G 111 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID N0:27: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 106 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:27: AAGGATCCGG CCGTCACTAG ATGCAGGCCA TCAGGAAGCA GACGCCGACG CAGCAGGTGC 60 GACGGATCAT CTCGCAGGGG TCGAAGTGCT CGATGCAACG CTTGTT 106 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID N0:28: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 27 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:28: TGGAATTCTG CAGACGACAG CTCCAAC 27 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID N0:29: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 26 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:29: AAGGATCCGG CCGTCACTAG ATGCAG 26 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID N0:30: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 45 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:30: AATTGCGGCC GGATCCAAGC TTGAGCTCGA ATTCCTGCAG ATCTG 45 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID N0:31: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 27 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:31: Cys Lys Ser Pro Gly Ser Ser Cys Ser Pro Thr Ser Tyr Asn Cys Cys 1 5 10 15 Arg Ser Cys Asn Pro Tyr Thr Lys Arg Cys Tyr 20 25 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID N0:32: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 25 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:32: Cys Lys Gly Lys Gly Ala Ser Cys His Arg Thr Ser Tyr Asp Cys Cys 1 5 10 15 Thr Gly Ser Cys Asn Arg Gly Lys Cys 20 25 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID N0:33: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 38 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:33: Ala Asp Cys Val Gly Asp Gly Gin Arg Cys Ala Asp Trp Ala Gly Pro 1 5 10 15 Tyr Cys Cys Ser Gly Tyr Tyr Cys Ser Cys Arg Ser Met Pro Tyr Cys 20 25 30 Arg Cys Arg Ser Asp Ser 35 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID N0:34: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 38 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:34: Ala Asp Cys Val Gly Asp Gly Gin Lys Cys Ala Asp Trp Phe Gly Pro 1 5 10 15 Tyr Cys Cys Ser Gly Tyr Tyr Cys Ser Cys Arg Ser Met Pro Tyr Cys 20 25 30 Arg Cys Arg Ser Asp Ser 35 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID N0:35: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 28 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:35: Val Gly Cys Glu Glu Asp Pro Met Asn Cys Lys Gly Lys Gin Ala Lys 1 5 10 15 Pro Thr Cys Cys Asn Gly Val Cys Asn Cys Asn Val 20 25 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID N0:36: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 30 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID N0:36: Ala Cys Ala Glu Thr Gly Ala Val Cys Val His Asn Asp Glu Cys Cys 1 5 10 15 Ser Gly Ala Cys Ser Pro Ile Phe Asn Tyr Cys Leu Pro Gin 20 25 30 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:37: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 37 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:37: Gin Cys He Gly Asn Gly Gly Arg Cys Asn Gl u Asn Val Gly Pro Pro 1 5 10 15 Tyr Cys Cys Ser Gly Phe Cys Leu Arg Gin Pro Gly Gin Gly Tyr Gly 20 25 30 Tyr Cys Lys Asn Arg 35

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Synthetic DNA encoding a gene capable of expressing a protein having the sequence shown in Figure 1, or a functional equivalent thereof or variants thereof permitted by the degeneracy of the genetic code. 2. Synthetic DNA having the sequence shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, or a functional equivalent thereof or variants thereof of permitted by the degeneracy of this genetic code. 3. Synthetic DNA according to claim 1 capable of expressing a protein having more than 75% homology with the sequence shown in Figure 1. 4. A method of controlling an insect population at a locus which comprises administering to the insects or locus a peptide protein toxic to insects, said protein being, or being functionally equivalent to, and having more than 75% homology with, a peptide protein derived from a mollusc, or a fragment or variant thereof possessing a toxic effect in insects. 5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the mollusc is a species of cone-snail of the genus Conus. 6. A method according to claim 4 wherein the toxin is a peptide protein expressed by the DNA sequence shown in claim 1 or claim 2, or a fragment or variant thereof possessing a toxic effect in insects. 7. A biological control agent comprising a viral, pro aryotic or eukaryotic host organism the genome of which has been modified by incorporation of a DNA sequence derived from a mollusc, or a synthetic DNA sequence having equivalent effect, and capable of expressing a peptide protein which is toxic to insects. 8. A biological control agent according to claim 7 wherein the mollusc is a species of the genus Conus. 9. A biological control agent according to claim 7 wherein the host organism is a baculovirus or an entomopoxvirus. 10. A biological control agent according to claim 9 wherein the host organism is a baculovirus and expression of the peptide protein is under the control of the polyhedrin promoter. 11. A biological control agent according to claim 9 wherein the host organism is an baculovirus and expression of the peptide protein is under the control of the plO promoter. 12. A biological control agent according to claim 9 wherein the host organism is an entomopoxvirus and expression of the peptide protein is under the control of the spheroidin promoter. 13. A biological control agent according to claim 7 wherein the host organism is a bacterial or fungal organism which infects or is in symbiotic association with insects. 14. A biological control agent according to claim 13 wherein the host organism is Bacillus thurinqiensis. 15. A biological control agent according to claim 13 wherein the host organism is Beauvaria bassiana. 16. A biological control agent according to claim 13 wherein the host organism is a plant endophyte. 17. A method according to claim 4 wherein the peptide protein is administered to the locus in the form of biological control agent according to claim 7. 18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the biological .control agent is a plant endophyte and the locus is a plant or the seed of a plant. 19. A plant the genome of which has been modified by incorporation of a DNA sequence derived from a mollusc, or a synthetic DNA sequence having equivalent effect, and capable of expressing a peptide protein which is toxic to insects and which renders the plant less susceptible to damage inflicted by insects. 20. A transmission vector comprising the DNA sequence of claim 1. 21. A transmission vector according to claim 20 which is a plasmid. 22. A transmission vector according to claim 21 wherein the plasmid is pVL1392 or pAcUW21. 23. A biological control agent according to claim 7 comprising a baculovirus the genome of which is modified by incorporation of a sequence of claim 1. 24. A bacterial host organism comprising a plasmid vector according to claim 21. 25. A bacterial host organism comprising a plasmid vector according to claim 24 wherein the host is Escherichia coli and the plasmid is PVL1392. 26. A bacterial host organism comprising a plasmid vector according to claim 24 having the characteristics of JHCC8002 (NCIMB 40540).

Inventors: EARLEY FERGUS GERARD PAUL, GUEST PHILIPPA JANE, SUNER MARIE-MARTHE, WINDASS JOHN DAVID, EARLEY, FERGUS, GERARD, PAUL, GUEST, PHILIPPA, JANE, SUNER, MARIE-MARTHE, WINDASS, JOHN, DAVID
Applicants: EARLEY FERGUS GERARD PAUL, GUEST PHILIPPA JANE, SUNER MARIE MARTHE, WINDASS JOHN DAVID, ZENECA LTD, EARLEY, FERGUS, GERARD, PAUL, GUEST, PHILIPPA, JANE, SUNER, MARIE-MARTHE, WINDASS, JOHN, DAVID, ZENECA LIMITED
Application year: 1994
Main classification: C12N15
IPC codes: A01H5, A01N37, A01N63, C07K14, C12N1, C12N5, C12N7, C12N15, C12R1